A Dartmouth faculty member, a Tucker Foundation Alternative Spring Break trip, and a local organization with ties to Dartmouth were recognized on April 12 by Campus Compact for New Hampshire. Campus Compact, a national coalition organized into state chapters, includes more than 1,100 college and university presidents who share a commitment to the civic purposes of higher education. About 200 people, including college students, higher education staff and administrators, and representatives of local K-12 schools and nonprofit agencies, attended the awards event in Nashua, N.H.
Professor Karolina Kawiaka
Karolina Kawiaka, senior lecturer in studio art and environmental studies, was honored for her work encouraging students to engage in challenging community-based projects both off- and on-campus. These tasks include the creation of walking flow and equipment arrangements for staff and clients of the Haven Homeless Shelter and the development of an energy-efficient version of the Habitat for Humanity’s stock local house design. For these reasons, Kawiaka was awarded the Presidents’ Good Steward Award, which honors a member of the faculty, administration, or staff who has contributed his or her professional expertise in service to the wider community and significantly advanced public service on campus.
“Working with the realities and messiness of real-world projects forces students to become more innovative while giving them a great sense of responsibility and allowing them to see that they can be leaders and create positive change in our communities,” says Kawiaka. “I am very honored to receive the award, but it should really go to the students whose work has made such a difference to some great local organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, the Haven, and Vital Communities.”
Faith in Action Alternative Spring Break Trip
The Faith in Action Alternative Spring Break Trip (ASB) received the Presidents’ Leadership Award, which honors an individual student or student organization that has made outstanding contributions to community service, service learning, or civic engagement efforts on campus. The Faith in Action ASB is dedicated to serving the San Francisco community; educating the Dartmouth community about issues of homelessness, poverty, and education; and training leaders for inter-faith understanding. Faith in Action organized a series of events in 2010 exploring homelessness, poverty, and education, anchored by a keynote lecture by author and activist Jonathan Kozol. The ASB has provided almost 1200 hours of service in the past three years to San Francisco agencies assisting the homeless.
The Family Place
Located in Norwich, Vt., The Family Place was awarded the Presidents’ Community Partner Award, which recognizes a non-profit organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community in meaningful and measurable ways, as well as engaged in the development of sustained, reciprocal partnerships with the College. “It’s an honor to be recognized by the college community for our partnerships with Dartmouth College students,” says director Elaine Guenet. “The Dartmouth students we have worked with have been truly special. They bring great energy and enthusiasm for the work, helping us meet critical needs for families as well as organizational needs that build capacity.”
The Family Place offers services that encourage parents to build upon their strengths to support positive parental growth and development. Dartmouth students volunteer by tutoring clients working toward their GEDs, counseling parents on making wise financial decisions through the Money Smart service group, knitting baby hats, purchasing books for children, and raising money to build a playground.
Additional information about Campus Compact for New Hampshire is available online.
